Shearline builds commercial cannabis sorting systems for separating trimmed flower by size immediately after trimming. The bud sorter helps preserve large flower, reduce handling, and intentionally separate smaller material.

Drying Conditions Matter

Proper drying directly affects how material separates and grades during sorting.

Shearline systems are designed for flower that has been dried under controlled conditions, maintaining structure and consistency. When material is properly dried, sorting becomes more accurate and repeatable.

If drying is inconsistent, sorting results will vary regardless of equipment.

See the Shearline Controlled Drying Method

Shearline Sorting System: US$16,000 plus shipping. Includes a complete, ready-to-operate unit.

See the Shearline sorter operating with a large-capacity autofeeder. Trimmed flower is metered into the sorter at a controlled rate, allowing continuous size separation while reducing manual handling.

Documented Sorter Capacity

In a documented 2022 demonstration, the Shearline sorter processed a 50 lb charge of flower in one continuous, unedited 9-minute-40-second run using a large-capacity timed Auto-Feeder. That corresponds to an observed equivalent rate of approximately 310 lb/hour.

This demonstration was not run at the sorter’s maximum possible feed rate and should be treated as an observed operating result rather than a formal maximum-capacity rating. For a Shearline Master System processing approximately 100 lb per 8-hour shift, the sorter therefore has substantial capacity headroom and is not the normal line bottleneck.

See How the Complete Shearline Trimming and Sorting System Works

Sorting reflects upstream success — it does not correct upstream failure.

Sorting does not create value.
It preserves value that still exists.

Shearline sorting systems operate as a direct continuation of trimming, separating flower immediately while material remains in optimal condition.
Early separation minimizes handling, prevents breakage, and allows premium flower to remain intact while smaller material is routed intentionally.

The system sorts up to four different size grades, with custom drum sizes available and easy drum swaps for different configurations.
The sorter is inline with the trimmer so trimmed buds drop straight into the sorter, reducing handling and extra processing steps.

The configurable drum can be set up for one, two, three, or four size grades, with buds falling through progressively sized opening grids and into the collection totes below.

Why the Shearline Sorter Uses a Slow Rotating Drum

The Shearline sorter uses an internal spiral to advance flower through the grading drum. Because the spiral controls forward movement, the drum can rotate at a very slow speed instead of relying on faster rotation to move product through the machine.

That slow rotation is important for dry flower. Buds remain near the bottom of the drum rather than being carried high up the sidewall and dropped repeatedly. The spiral also keeps flower moving through each grading section while exposing it repeatedly to the full circumference of the sizing openings.

Fixed Grading Sections for More Defined Size Separation

Each grading section uses a defined opening size. Flower stays in that section long enough to be repeatedly presented to the same size threshold before moving to the next grade. This creates a more defined cutoff between grades than systems that sort through continuously widening longitudinal gaps.

This difference matters with long, narrow buds. In a continuously widening gap, an intact bud can drop early because its narrow dimension fits the opening even though its overall length and appearance would normally place it in a larger commercial grade. Fixed grading sections reduce that variability by keeping each section at a consistent aperture size.

Direct Transfer, Fewer Drops, Easier Cleaning

When used inline with the Shearline trimmer, finished flower drops directly into the sorter. There is no need to lift it onto another conveyor before grading. Reducing transfers, lifts and drops helps limit unnecessary handling of dry flower.

The sorter is also built around a rigid drum, removable covers and open washdown access rather than multiple flexible sorting belts and roller assemblies. The product-contact area can be hot-water pressure washed for fast, thorough cleaning between production runs.

The complete top-mounted electrical assembly is designed to be removed in about one minute or less. With the electrical section lifted off, the upper machine structure is fully accessible for pressure washing rather than forcing operators to clean around permanently mounted electrical components.

Fast, wash‑down cleaning is supported by removable covers and a design that can be hot‑water pressure washed and returned to a clean state in minutes.

Direct line: 1-778-968-3773